History of dance4life

dance4life was founded in 2003 and has become an international movement. Its purpose is to empower young people to take action themselves to push back HIV and AIDS. dance4life is about the belief that HIV and AIDS can and will be stopped the moment young people have the power to stand up and say no to unsafe sex, to change not only their own attitudes and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, but also those of the people around them and to take action to become part of the solution- a solution for life.

Since it's inception in 2003, dance4life has grown and shaped into the biggest youth movement in the world with the goals of pushing back the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Our goal is to create - by the Saturday before World AIDS Day 2014, a total of one million agents of change. An agent of change is a young person who has participated in dance4life’s schools4life project and is actively involved in pushing back HIV and AIDS.

In 2011, the dance4life approach is applied in 28 countries worldwide. In Vietnam the program is implemented exclusively by the Rutgers WPF Vietnam in close collaboration with high schools and colleges.

We actively look for partnerships with social corporate partners for funding, expertise and employee involvement.

By including celebrities such as Thanh from Big Toe (hip hop group), Kim (singer), Xuan Bac (comedian) and Quan Rapsoul (Rapper and DJ) in our program, we make our messages more attractive to young people and the media.

Over the last 5 years, the Vietnam project has evolved from a pilot project involving 500 students in one high school to a full implementation of activities reaching up to around 15,000 students in more than sixteen schools in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Long An and Dong Nai. As part of the project these students have access to highly appreciated knowledge on HIV, AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health.